ROCK TOOLS
Bit parts
Epiroc believes that with Powerbit
Underground top hammer bits it is setting a
new productivity standard for underground
mining
of drilling holes by opting for fewer and larger
holes to reduce the total number of drill metres,
and increase efficiency and profitability. “It’s
about ensuring maximum utilisation of the rig
and keeping it operational with minimum
interruption,” said Davood Mohammadi Balan,
Percussive Service Manager at Epiroc.
However, traditional DTH hammers involve
repeated consumable replacements and a large
inventory. Shifting to a new hammer for each rig
Drilling consumables in
mining are lasting longer
with the latest diamond and
cemented carbide coatings
and buttons; and new
products are also appearing
across the board, reports
Paul Moore
roducts specific to underground are
appearing more in the rock tools space
and Epiroc believes it is unleashing a
P
new power in the underground drilling industry
with the launch of its Powerbit Underground
tophammers. These drill bits have been
designed to match the capacity of the latest
technology in drill rigs and offer a higher
penetration rate, longer service life and more
drill metres per day, according to the company.
“It will boost the productivity of both new and
older rigs – allowing customers to capitalise
more on their rig investment,” Epiroc said.
Back in 2016, Atlas Copco Secoroc (now part
of Epiroc) launched its Powerbit tophammer drill
bits for surface drilling, which were built to take
on any rock, from hard to soft, and from
abrasive to non-abrasive. Epiroc says the
Powerbit Underground has by far outperformed
all standard bits during substantial testing
carried out around the world, resulting in
remarkable productivity improvement.
Johan Thenór, Product Line Manager for
Tophammer Products at Epiroc, said: “The new
bit averaged 37% more drill metres before being
discarded, peaking at a whopping 82% in one
test round! No doubt, we’re setting a new
productivity standard for underground mining.”
The tests show a higher penetration rate and
longer intervals between regrinds, so miners will
benefit from more trouble-free, uninterrupted
drilling, according to the company.
Thenór added: “At the end of the day, it’s
about getting maximum capacity from your drill
rig, and we are sure customers will be happy to
International Mining | NOVEMBER 2019
see what Powerbit Underground can deliver.”
Epiroc says Powerbit Underground is a firm
response to market demand for a bit that
matches the high drilling speeds enabled by
ever-stronger rigs and rock drills. With that said,
it will prove just as game-changing for
customers using older rigs with lower water
pressure, if not more, according to the company.
Epiroc said: “Every miner can look forward to
a bit with a higher penetration rate and longer
service life. This will improve their productivity
and reduce their cost per metre drilled.”
The leading productivity is partly explained
by the bit’s optimised flushing capacity,
according to Robert Arnoldsson, Senior Product
Specialist, Tophammer Products at Epiroc. “The
hole configuration maximises flushing
efficiency, which is key to the high penetration
rate,” he said.
More innovative features combine to give the
bit the leading position in underground drilling
today, Arnoldsson added. “We used our hardest
steel ever and we configured the bit’s face in
such a way that it removes cuttings faster than
ever before. Therefore, drillers can make the
most out of their rigs and achieve a whole new
penetration capability,” he said.
Customers will also be making their
acquaintance with Trubbnos, Epiroc’s new and
innovative trapezoid-shaped buttons, which
increase penetration rate and service life
compared with conventional, semi-ballistic
buttons, the company said.
Thenór concluded: “Since the bit’s
performance is crucial to the rig’s ability to
penetrate rock fast, customers can look forward
to a new product that will greatly improve
drilling efficiency.”
COP M series of DTH hammers
In the DTH tools market Epiroc says its new COP
M series of flexible DTH hammers is easily
adapted for use on different rigs and in different
drilling conditions – and it believes set to boost
productivity for mining companies.
Mining companies seek to minimise the cost
type or drilling condition is costly to mining
companies.
The new COP M hammers from Epiroc will
dramatically change profitability in DTH drilling
thanks to their innovative flexibility, according
to the company. “These new hammers are a
step towards a change in operational flexibility
by being easily adapted to different rig types
and drilling conditions,” Balan said. Each
hammer in the new range can be used on a wide
range of DTH drill rigs thanks to a conversion kit
located inside the hammer.
Fredrik Gransell, Product Line Manager, DTH,
Epiroc, said: “By adapting the hammer to a
specific rig, the rate of penetration (ROP) is
optimised.”
Together, the new products, COP M6, COP M7
and COP M8 – where M stands for mining and
the number for the tool’s dimension – optimally
cover drilling needs in the 6.5-10 in dimension
range.
Gransell added: “The new COP M series adds
the flexibility of selecting the right tool for any
given situation. It’s a revolutionary innovation in
DTH drilling.”
“At a small investment, mining companies
can tap into top-quality technology from the
leading provider – and boost profitability to a
whole new level,” concluded Balan.
Still within the COP M Series, but for smaller
diameter holes, Epiroc also offers its COP M4
DTH hammer for soft-rock applications. Epiroc is
also planning to launch a new bit, specially
designed for soft-rock DTH drilling.
Boart Longyear’s productivity
boosters
Drillers are finding Longyear™ diamond bits
considerably more effective in a variety of
exploration applications, says Boart Longyear.
This past year, it introduced a complete line of
Longyear™ Diamond Bits including a Red,
Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple bit.
Each of these bits corresponds to hardness
ratings on the Mohs hardness scale (Purple is
meant for 1-4.5 rock, up to Red which is best for
a 7.5-9 hardness).